Market News

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, in trading on Friday, shares of Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc (NASD: CNSL) were yielding above the 6% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.54952), with the stock changing hands as low as $25.34 on the day. Dividends are particularly important for investors to consider, because historically speaking dividends have provided a considerable share of the stock market's total return. To illustrate, suppose for example you purchased shares of the iShares Russell 3000 ETF (IWV) back on 5/31/2000 — you would have paid $78.27 per share. Fast forward to 5/31/2012 and each share was worth $77.79 on that date, a loss of $0.48 or 0.6% decrease over twelve years. But now consider that you collected a whopping $10.77 per share in dividends over the same period, increasing your return to 13.15%. Even with dividends reinvested, that only amounts to an average annual total return of about 1.0%; so by comparison collecting a yield above 6% would appear considerably attractive if that yield is sustainable. Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc (NASD: CNSL) is a member of the Russell 3000, giving it special status as one of the largest 3000 companies on the U.S. stock markets.

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Fat 5% dividends are hard to come by as stocks continue to climb. But you can actually still get those high yields - and take on less risk - by looking to the municipal bond market.

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Watch to watch the week of August 15-19.

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The stock market spent most of the week consolidating its gains after the sharp rally in reaction to the July jobs report. Thursday's sharply higher close and very positive A/D numbers suggests that stocks are likely ready for another push to the upside as the S&P 500 challenges the 2200 level. The new high in the major averages and leading action of the advance/decline lines has still not convinced everyone as Goldman Sachs advised their clients on August 1st to "avoid all stocks for the next three months". They are also sticking with their yearend target for the S&P 500 at 2100 which is 3.7% below current levels. It has not been a good year for Goldman Sachs as on February 16th they advised selling gold short when the December contract was trading at $1209. As of last Thursday's close at $1350 it is up 11.6% since this recommendation. Their crude oil forecasts also seem to be out of sync as they turned bullish three weeks before it topped out in June. As they continue to lay off staff I hope they consider hiring some good technical analysts. So what's missing from this bull market?

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Can you believe a broker fleeced an elderly blind widow? Here's how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

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The DividendRank formula at Dividend Channel ranks a coverage universe of thousands of dividend stocks, according to a proprietary formula designed to identify those stocks that combine two important characteristics -; strong fundamentals and a valuation that looks inexpensive. American Water Works Co, Inc. (NYSE: AWK) presently has an above average rank, in the top 50% of the coverage universe, which suggests it is among the top most "interesting" ideas that merit further research by investors.

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In trading on Monday, shares of Atmos Energy Corp. (NYSE: ATO) entered into oversold territory, changing hands as low as $75.69 per share. We define oversold territory using the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which is a technical analysis indicator used to measure momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30.

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Jack Ma is a current add to my lifetime list of great operators. Such entrepreneurs embrace not just technology, but retailing (Sam Walton and Bernie Marcus at Home Depot). Media saw Bill Paley and Ted Turner build out TV networks along with Rupert Murdoch. Let's not forget Walt Disney, a 20th Century icon everlasting.

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If we had to describe the last 50 years of economic history in one word, globalization would be high on the list. Thousands of small, independent economies around the world fused into one nearly seamless whole.

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